'Accessing the bite'

[joframe]

I have read a bit about 'accessing the dogs bite on Kevin Behan's site and was looking for help with understanding one of my dogs behaviour. Mild mannered hamiltonstovare, pushing with both front paws up but not keen on tug. When he gets excited (when playing with one of the other dogs or when we come home from work) he grabs something in his mouth and runs out to the garden - where he wants to run around and play be chased/chase (i think). Is that him putting his bite somewhere where he feels safe? Is it that bite that I want him to redirect to something I have, like a tug? or am i missing the point?

[donnieo]

you're definitely on the right track. When he grabs his toy, he's putting his energy into something with very low resistance because he's not yet able to plug in to you in those excitable moments. I would suggest that you refrain from playing tug with him for now and concentrate on pushing. Once he's giving you really good pushes then you can re-introduce the tug toys.

[joframe]

Brilliant - I will do - although I'm getting back and blue all over! Thanks for getting back to me

[joframe]

I might be being a bit impatient but do I need to be able to get a good game of tug going with my dog before I move to the box work, sit-stay etc?

[neilsattin]

Hi Joframe (and Donnieo),

What donnieo mentioned is certainly a good way to approach what's going on. At the same time, I thought I'd suggest something for you to try.

Often I think it's helpful to look at what a dog is doing, and to use that behavior - but in a new context. For instance, if your dog is used to grabbing a toy (that's the behavior you want to harness) then you can try to shift what happens next so that it reinforces attraction to you in those moments.

When your dog grabs the toy, head outside with toy #2 (you do have an identical tug toy, right?) and focus your energy on teasing your dog with toy #2, playing keepaway, getting your dog to chase you, etc. See if you can get your dog to drop toy #1 to engage you in tug over toy #2 - and if you can, then you've transitioned into a game of tug.

Sometimes it can also help to actually push your dog off-balance a bit, and then immediately run away, teasing your dog with the toy in your hands, in order to shift them into a chase YOU mode.

You can certainly start to introduce box work. One word of caution that I've mentioned elsewhere - it's at this point that a lot of people tend to start focusing on the sit/down/stay, because it's more in the "human comfort zone". But while it's certainly good to start playing with the box, and your dog's sense of space - see it as an extension of building your dog's attraction to you.

For instance, if you get your dog up on the box and into a down-stay, and start backing away from the box, you are stretching a rubber-band of attraction between the two of you as you move away. Have THAT be the purpose of the box work (playing with that rubber band) for the time being - instead of having the sit/down/stay part be the focus. There's time for that later.

For that matter, start incorporating the heeling work as well. Have fun with it!